Railway-rail joint.



PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

L. A; SHELDON. RAILWAY RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.

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L.'A. SHELDON. RAILWAY RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented fiarch 22, 1904 ATENT rrica.

LAINER A. SHELDON, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO F. H. FINKE, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

RAILWAY-RAIL JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,402, dated March 22, 1904. Application filed September 2,1903. Serial No. 171,679. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAINER A. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Rail Joints, of whlch the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in railway-rail joints, and more especially to those of that character or type embodying a connectingblock adapted to be arranged between the meeting ends of the rails and to which said rails are secured.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rail-joint of the character mentioned which will be comparatively simple in construction, durable and efficient in use, and which Will effectually prevent vertical and transverse movement of the ends of the rails ing-block provided with sliding locking members adapted to embrace the webs of the rails and be secured thereto to connect the rails.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a railjoint embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the connecting-block in longitudinal vertical section to show the arrangement of the sliding locking members. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a central horizontal longitudinal section through the rails and the connecting-block. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the block,showing one of the rails detached therefrom; and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the slidinglocking members detached from the connecting-block.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 designate the meeting ends of railway-rails, which are of the well-known form commonly employed embodying tread, web, and base portions and in connection with which my improved railjoint is employed. In making the joint the general structure of rails as shown is not altered; but in the under side of their bases at a point adjacent the ends are formed rectangular sockets or recesses 2 2, which are employed for a purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter.

3 designates theconnecting-block by means of which the ends of the rails are connected. This connecting-block consists of a central or main portion which is arranged between the ends of the rails and is formed with a tread 4, which when in position to join the rails is flush with the treads thereof and over which the car-wheel rides in passing from one rail to the other. Transversely the main portion of the block is of such a width that its outer vertical faces extend for a distance beyond the webs of the meeting rails, substantially as shown in Fig. 4, whereby additional strength and solidity are afforded at the joint. Extending from the ends of the connecting-block are oppositely-directed supporting members 5 5, formed with longitudinal channels 6, in which are seated the bases of the rails 1 1 when the joint is made. The longitudinal edge flanges 7, which bound the channels 6, engage the edges of the rail-bases, which effectually prevent transverse movement of the rails with relationto each other. Within the channels 6 are formed vertically-projecting lugs 8, which are arranged to be seated in the sockets 2, formed in the bases of the rails, which provides an additional means to form a rigid joint between the connecting-block and the rail. Arranged within the main portion of the connecting-block, and at each end thereof, are pairs of longitudinally-directed passages 9, separated from each other by means of a central partition 10, extending longitudinally of the block,- and which is of the same thickness as the webs of the meeting rails, thepassages opening upon either side of said webs and being preferably rectangular in cross-section. Slidably disposed within each of the passages 9 are looking members 11, which are movable longitudinally to be projected into engagement with the webs of the rails, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. These members 11 are of such width vertically as to closely engage with their upper and lower edges the under side of the tread and the upper face of the rail-base, as shown, for the purpose of preventing vertical movement of the rail ends during the passage of the cars over the rails.

Opening through the outer vertical faces of the connecting-block 3, upon both sides thereof, are horizontally-disposed slots 12, which open into the passages 9, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Threaded into the sides of the locking members and projecting into the slots 12 are operating-pins 13,- by means of which the said locking members are projected longitudinally to engage the rail ends or are retracted to break the joint. These pins 13 and the slots 12 also cooperate to limit the movement of the locking members and to prevent the displacement of said members from the passages 9, the pins abutting the ends of the slot to accomplish the purpose stated. The outer ends of the pins are made flush with the outer surface of the connecting-block 3 in order to prevent their being struck by the flanges of passing car-wheels and broken ofi".

The outer ends of the sliding locking members 9 are formed with transverse openings 14, which when said members are projected to form the coupling are adapted to register with an opening 15, formed in the web of therail, and through these openings 14 and 51 are projected bolts 16, which are secured in position by nuts 17, the said bolts locking the rails to the connecting-block and completing the joint.

When it is desired to join the rails by my improved coupling or joint, the ends of the rails 1 1 are arranged adjacent to each other, the bases resting in the channeled members 5 5, as described, the main portion of the connecting-block being disposed between the ends of the rails with the locking members retracted or housed within the passages 9. The rails and block being in the position just described, the locking members are projected to engage both sides of the webs of the rails, where they are secured by the bolts 16 when the rails are coupled.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail-joint the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the ends of the rails, and a movable locking member carried by the block and adapted to be projected from said block to engage the rail, and means for fastening the locking member to the rail.

2. In a rail-joint the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the ends of the rails, oppositely-arranged passages within said block, and locking members movably arranged within said passages and adapted to be projected from said block to engage the web of the rail to form the joint.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the rails, locking members slidably arranged upon the block and adapted to be projected to engage the webs of the rails to complete the joint.

4:. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the rails, locking members slidably arranged upon the block and adapted to be projected to engage the webs of the rails, and means to fasten the locking members to the rails.

5: In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the rails, pairs of passages formed ineach end of the connecting-block, and slidable locking members arranged in said passages and adapted to engage the webs of the rails upon opposite sides thereof.

6. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block formed at its ends with channeled members in which the rails are seated, said block being also formed with oppositely-arranged passages, locking members slidably arranged within said passages and adapted to engage the webs of the rails, slots in the connecting-block, and pins mounted on the locking members and projecting into said slots.

7. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, of a connecting-block arranged between the rails, locking members slidably arranged upon the block and adapted to engage the webs of the rails, means to limit the movement of said locking members and means to connect them to the rails.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

LAINER A. SHELDON.

Witnesses:

F. H. FINKE, A. B. MURRAY. 

